Our basic approach to the classroom and teaching is that a teacher stands in front of the class, instructing the entire room full of students, teaching them all in the same manner with the same technique, expecting them to have understood at least half of what they are saying, and at least retain 15% of the knowledge from it.

Students are told what they have to learn, what they have to remember, what they have to write, and what they have to recite. Amidst all this, students start developing a myriad of dreams and interests. They begin to build an idea of their future, they are starting to shape their personality, and understanding what they like and what they do not.

Although there is a set curriculum and syllabus you have to abide by as a teacher, if you still manage to incorporate the interests of your students into their learning and your teaching methods, it will increase their interest in the subject and increase the potential of knowledge retention. It will also help them in learning how to connect different ideas and will create respect for knowledge.

When students start seeing the subjects they study beyond report cards and certificates, you will help improve the overall performance of the class instead of having a few selected toppers year by year. But how do you do that?

1.    Unless you build a relationship with your students, they’ll only look at the teacher as an object. For building a relationship with students at an individual level, allow the room for two-way dialogue. You can ask questions as simple as how they are doing today, what challenges are they facing, or what has been going good recently in their life.

2.    Ask the students about their passion and allow them to share their stories with others. You can ask them questions to prompt them, like why are you passionate about it, when did you develop a passion for it, do you know anybody with the same passion, who supports your passion, how much time you spend on your passion, etc. When students talk about what they love the most and what they are passionate about, it empowers them to identify and realize their strengths and willingness to work hard towards becoming better and improving further.

3.    As Joseph Joubert says, “To teach, is to learn twice.” Ask your students to teach other students any particular concept in any creative or non-creative way they want to choose. Maybe some child can make a song on a concept, or a video, or a diagram, or somebody can even choose to go metaphorical in teaching a concept.

4.    Go outside of the academics and ask the students what would they like to learn, or what would they like to teach others. They can choose from any skill which can be as simple or as easy as how to make a tie-knot or tie shoelaces faster. Somebody can teach a simple origami trick, a quick math trick, an interesting dance move, or how to make a hair bun. Though they may sound very easy and simple, yet sharing these skills will help them look at the technical side of the things in much depth, build up the confidence in the presenter who already knows that skill well and help them identify their strengths, as well as it will help the students from the class who perhaps were having difficulty in learning that skill from an adult.

These simple learning hacks will enhance the development of the students and will help you in empowering them. These tips will not only improve your relationship with your students but will also improve their relationship amongst themselves and will build an environment of mutual respect in them.